Page 67 of Revived

“I’d say the ball is in your court as far as possibilities go.” We chatted a while about her new love, Sarah. Then she turned everything back around to me. “What about you? What’s been happening?”

So, that was when I broke down and filled my best friend in on everything that had gone down since I moved to Georgia. I included the last three dates that Gabe and I had gone on. All three of which had ended with a simple kiss at the end. “What the hell does that mean? Is it his way of saying he just wants to be friends? Have I been friend zoned?” I asked in a panicked tone when I finally finished.

Amanda laughed at me. “You really think he’s gone through all this trouble, after telling you he wants in your heart, not your panties, just to friend zone you?”

“I honestly don’t know what to think. He’s a freaking rock star. Shouldn’t they want to leap into bed first and see where the chips fall after?” I knew that was a horrible way to think of things, but I couldn’t help the doubt that had seeped in.

“Melanie, stop it. I understand the knee jerk reaction you’re having, considering what took place, but sweetheart, you’ve missed the point. You haven’t been dating a rock star. You, my dear friend, have been dating the man. The man that had to gain your trust back. The same one that told you he was waiting for you to let him back into your heart. Don’t you think maybe he’s waiting for you to greenlight the next step?”

“What?” The word tumbled free of my lips before I could pull it back. Could she be right? “Do you really think that’s what he’s been doing?”

“Duh!” Was all she said in response. “I’m grabbing another margarita, you want a refill?”

“Of course I do, now that your brilliant brain made me see the light. I have some plans to make. I think it’s best that it happened while my defenses are down a bit.”

Amanda laughed at me. “That’s my girl. Now, let’s get drunk and plan exactly how you’re going to get back in that sexy-as-fuck man’s pants!”

~*~

The next night, I had another date with Gabe while Amanda went to meet up with her girlfriend. We went to see a movie that one of the girls on the set I worked on recommended. The only redeeming factor for the film was that it had a few steamy scenes. The movie might have been better than I thought, but nerves had me so preoccupied that I just couldn’t really pay attention.

“You seemed distracted,” Gabe mentioned as we quickly moved out of the theater, hoping to avoid him being noticed by anyone.

“I am, a bit. Do you mind if I just take you back home?” I had driven that night in order to show off the new car I purchased. While living in New York, it had been impossible to own a car because I had absolutely nowhere to park the damn thing and spaces there went for a premium. We hopped into my Buick Encore, or what I’d explained to Gabe was the ‘cheap man’s luxury vehicle’. It appeared high end with all its bells and whistles, even though it was closer to twenty thousand dollars than thirty.

“Are you sure nothing’s wrong?” Gabe asked as we drove.

“I hope not. There are just a few things on my mind is all.”

We drove the rest of the way in relative silence as Gabe watched the scenery pass by outside the window. He refused to look at me again, and I began to wonder if I hadn’t let my nerves ruin the entire night. I was previously married. My birthday was just around the corner. I was about to hit the big 3-5, and I couldn’t keep my nerves under wraps for one freaking date. If I could have split down the middle to form two people at that moment, my bad-ass self would have slapped the shit out of Downer Debbie me.

Once we got to his house, I turned the car off and walked Gabe to the door. My palms were sweating, heart was beating about a thousand miles a minute, and I felt like I might pee myself, if I was being honest. Still, I managed to do what had to be done. Whereas he had been leaving me at the doorstep with just a quick brush of lips and simple kisses, I was about to rock his world. I just hoped he was okay with that.

So, when he turned to say something to me as he got the door opened, I went for it. I raised up on my tippy toes while simultaneously reaching up to grasp around the back of his neck and pull him down to me. He came willingly, even though it was obvious I’d surprised him. Gabe’s mouth met mine, and thankfully for my purposes, his lips had been slightly parted already since I caught him about to say something. I shoved my tongue right inside and slid it as seductively as one can manage right across his own and then I licked his lips and went back for more. He was stunned at first, but once he realized what was happening, Gabe’s tongue tangled with mine. His arms wrapped around my waist, and he lifted me so that we were no longer awkwardly stretching and bending to go at one another. I lifted as he tugged me up and wrapped my legs around his hips as my hands attempted to tangle in his hair. Unfortunately, he’d cut it recently, so I just had to settle for brushing my nails along the close-cropped bristles that were left.

Gabe moved us into the house, slammed the door shut, and then propped me up against it. The groan that ripped free of him was part want, but also tinged with pain. It was then I remembered that his leg probably wasn’t ready to wear this much weight as he stood. I might have been a shorter girl, but my curves weren’t weightless. Immediately, I struggled to hop down, but Gabe growled and would not relent in kissing me.

“Stop,” I panted into his mouth. “You need to let me down,” I warned.

“I never want to let you down again, Mel.”

I smiled into his kiss then, before slowly trailing my hands around and down his cheeks, to his neck, and across his shoulders. Then I squeezed a bit and allowed my legs to drop so that I was basically dead weight hanging there until he finally let my body slide down his own until my toes could touch the ground again. I didn’t miss the grind of his hardened cock against my body as that happened.

“I want this to continue, but I don’t want to hurt you. So, let’s be smart about it, okay?” I asked.

“Oh, thank fuck! I thought I’d gone too far, and you regretted it already.”

Laughter bubbled free from me then. “Seriously? Gabe, I’ve been wondering what the hell was wrong with me. I thought maybe you had friend zoned me or something. Four dates and only a quick, stolen kiss at the end of each?” I asked the question lacing each word with the disbelief and doubt I’d felt. “We’re in our 30s, not dead.”

It was Gabe’s turn to laugh then. “Fuck, even when I’m trying to do right, I’m screwing it all up. I just wanted you to know that it was about more than just the physical stuff. I fell for you long before we went there…”

“Right. Long before. I know we’re starting anew, but the truth is, we’re not new. It’s been months and I just want to feel you, be with you again. Do you think we can manage that?”

Instead of responding, the infuriating man simply kissed me, then took my hand and led me up the stairs to the master bedroom. “Fast and hard or soft and slow?” He asked.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what he meant. “Which one of those falls under, I need you now, so get naked?” It was a tease, but I knew what I wanted. Hell, what I needed, after waiting so long for him to find his way to me completely.

“Right,” he told me as he lifted the dress I was wearing right off my body. “We’ll go slow later.” Our clothes quickly fell away, at least that’s what it felt like as each layer was peeled off and we were left standing there, naked before one another. There was a brief moment where we both just looked our fill before I found my bold self again and directed Gabe.

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